Self-closing valve



June 5, 1928.

H. W. TAYLOR SELF CLOSING VALVE 1 Filed July 19. 1926 2 Sheetsfheet l 2 I @noauto/ attozwu June 5, 1928. 1,672,235

H. w. 'rAYLoR SELF CLOSINGVALVE Filed July 19,:1926 2 Sheets-sheet 2 gvwento/o anotan,

Patented June 5, 19284.

UNITED STATES rH ALSEY W. TAYLOR, OF WARREN, OHIO.

SELF-CLOSING VALVE.

applicati@ 1aed July 1s,

My invention relates to an improvement in self-closing valves, and. in general my object is to provide a valve which may be readily controlled by hand to promote. the discharge'of water in a steady stream in a drinking fountain. As constructed, the valve "embodies I a spring-pressed closure member having a stem adapted to be raised by ball bearing devices upon rotation of a handle, and the operating connection between the handle and valve stem is such that the handle may be rotated easily Without rising with the stem. Furtliermore, the operating connections'are locked to the valve stem in' a simple way to permit vertical adjustment of the valve stem and proper seat.- ingof the valve'member4 without excessive loose play between the working parts. However, such parts are particularly constructed to permit convenient assembly` and disassembly thereof, including the balls which are held removably in a single spring ringr retainer, all as hereinafter shown and described 1n greater detail and more particularly pointed out in' the claims.

Inl the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional view, ona large scale, of my 'improved self-closing valve.` Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the valve stem and handle on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a horizontal section of the neck of the valvebody 011 line 3 3, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa side view, .andy Fig. 5, bottom view of the rotatable cam member which is ren'lova-bly confined within theihandle. Fig. 6 is a` side elevation, and Figj7 a sectional view, ofthe balls and ball separator for supporting the rotatable cam member. Fig. 8 is a top view, and Fig. 9 a side elevation, of the cam nut which is fixed within the top of the valve body. ,Fig. 10

is' a sectional view and Fig. 11 a botto1n view, of the locking capl for the valve stern. F i0. 12 is a perspective view of the locking co lar, and Fig;l 13 al perspective view of the main valve member and its stem.

My invention comprises a valve body 2, whichjis provided with a main Water passage which is divided into two parts by a centralfvvallor diaphragm 5 having a valve seat 6 at its top. Asmall water passage 7 leads from passage 3 to a screw-threaded bore v8 in which a regulating screw 9 issecured aXially in line with a vertical opening or passage 10 of restricted size in wall 5` and through which the water mustffpass to escape when the valve is opened. The squared ex- 1926. serial No. 123,296.

tremity 11 of screw 9 is exposed at the bottom of the valve body for wrench adjustment, and a`cupped gland member 12 is sleeved, around the screw and screw-connected with body 2 to permit suitable packing 14to be compressed around the screwy when the valve stem is raised and head 15 .isv

lifted from seat 6, thus preventing rotation of-said head and stem. The upward movement of this valve member' compresses a heavy coiled spring 21 seated upon head 15, which spring thus serves to close the valve when the rotatable handle 22 which serves to operate the lift mechanism for the valve stem is released. Spring 21 bears at its upper end against a plate 23 which is sleeved upon stem 17, and this plate is held by the pressure of the spring against the bottom edge of screw-threaded wall 24 of a cam plug 25, which is adjustably screwed within the topf of cylindrical neck 18 of body 2. p ,Downward adjustment of plug 25 will compress the lspring and provide additional tensionror pressure in valve head 1'5 when needed, and a vlock nut 26 encircles plugf25 to prevent the cam plug from turning after adjustment thereof. A sealing gasket 27 may be used between lock nut 26 and the upper edge of neck 18 'to prevent leakage where the parts are screw-threaded together.- Leakage internally of cam plug 25 is prevented by packing 28 embracing round stem 17 within a. chamber 29 in the bottom of the plug, which packing is held constantly under compression by a small coiled spring 30 seated between plate 23y and a flanged disk 31 which presses' against the packing. y v L Handle 22 is a. hollow body having rotatable connection with cam plug 25, the latter having an annular iange 32 at its top which overlaps an inwardly-extending flange 33 at the bottom of the handle. Consequently said handle cannot rise-,being confined between handle is rotated comprise valve stemrl, and a cam member 34 which is sleeved" loosely over the upper end of the valve stem but locked against independent kiit move ment in respect thereto by a locking collar and a. locking cap 36 for said collar. Collar 35 has screw-threaded engagement with the upper screw-threaded end 'of stem l to permit adjustment of the stem and its valve headk in respect tol valve seat 6, and lthe top of stem 17 is facedl oii1 Hat on opposite'sides to provide a Hat-faced locking extremity 37 or'cap 36, which cap is serrated internally to interlock with the serrated circumference oi collar 35. Cross-shaped slots 38 are provided in the top wall of cap 36 to permit attachment oi' the cap to stem extremity 37,

ythe crossed slots varying slightly from a right angle to facilitate adjustment of the parts'. Cap 36 is sleeved upon and interlocl'red with collar 35 only after said collar has been screwed' down upon the stem into loose enga-gement with the top of rotatable cam' member 34, and in this position of the parts -said cam member may be rotated; and causedv to 'ride upwardly against the bottoml oi collar 35 to litt valve stem 17. The means tor lifting the stem comprises opposed cams or reversely-inclined surfaces 39`40 on nut 25 and member 34, together with a` pluralr number of steel balls 4l interposed between said surfaces. These balls are supported for joint movement by a circular ball retainer comprising two concentric metal bands or rings 42 and' 43 made of flat stock having round openings radially thereof to receive and hold: the balls` and the inner ring 43 is preferably a split ring possessing spring qualities to permit convenient assembly of such parts and to secure the balls under tension within the outer endless ring. Thus, when the balls and their common retain-er are coniin'ed between the. cam surfaces a common movement will be imparted' to the balls when handle Q2 is rotated, the rotative movement being transmitted to cani member 34 by a pair of vertical ribs `44 which are located' internally of handle 22 and extend into slots 45. in the edge of cam member 34, see Figs. l and 2. During such rotation of the parts a sliding contact is established between cam member 34 and handle 22 at ribs 44, which Apermits said cam member toy rise freely within the handle while the latter is prevented from rising by flanges 32 and' 33. -Additional ribs 44 may be used inside oi the handle to permit convenient assembly'and adjustment of the handle'. in respect to the body, the handle also having a removable crown member 46 to enclose the working parts. Crown member 46` may be screw-connected to handle 22 and bear any desired inscription, and it may be made olf metal, porcelain. or other material'. The valve is held. closed normally by its main spring, and to open thevalve, handle 22 may be rotated in either direction, there- 'by rotating cam member 34 and causing the same kto lride upon the balls, which in turn roll upwardly on the cam surfaces on plug 2.5i, thusrais-ing cam member 34 and the valve stem also by means ot collar 35. In so doing the valve head is raised from its seat and the valve so that when the handle is released sell-closing of the main water passage will y be effected; Control ofthe Water Qyving through the valve and steady uniform flew or' water at any desired radial setting of' theV valve handle mayA be easily maintained be-k cause the handle m-ay be rotated freely with# out rising and also because theV action ot the main spring mayA be steadily c0nl3,If0ll`ed.`l

drinking fountain' where a steady stream of water otiiniiorm height or volume mustv beA temporarily maintained by hand 'while thel person is drinking, and'V for which` purpose 'B5 Such control is especially desirable in a" the presentinvention has been particularly ,v

designed, although not necessarily limitedte this particular class of water distributing devices.v

lWhat claim is: ll. A sel'leclosing valve, comprising anonrotatable litt stem,l cam devices sleevedyov'erand freely encircling said stem adaptedgto` litt said stem, and arotatable non-rising handle centrally aligned with said lii't stem, said cam devicesfhav-ing, a vertically slidable operating' connection withsaid handle,y

v2. A self-closing valve, comprising.,v a l' spring-pressed lift stem,l cam devices adapted to litt said stem, a hollowV handle having ver-, tical ribs internally slidably engaged with said cam devices adapted' to efifectfjeint rotatable movement of said' partsI and" an independent vertical lift movement of"saidlfcarnj-l devices in respect to said handle.v

i" sell-closingv valve, comprising" a, springpressed valve stem, means interloclfrldy with said stem and a cam member engaged' with said means adapted to lift the stem, and a rotatable handle, said vcam member and handle having vertically-slidable engaging.; portions adapted to permit; joint rotatable' movement thereof and an independent vertical movement of said camV member'. j

4. A sel'iscl'osing valve, com yrising a having a cylindrical neck and) a valve sat` a valve mei-'uber having lugs', sli'dabl'y engajgL'` ing said neck adapted to, prevent said meine.y

ber from turning, a lift stem; for said valve4 member having a screw-threaded end ay fiat extension, a; serrated collar screw-connected with said stem, a slotted. cap detach? ablyl engaged" with said= extension having ser. rations adapted. to interlock with saidser?y rated collar, a cam member rotatably sleeved' upon said stem in lift relation to said collar, a cam nut connected with said cylindrical neck adapted to support said stem, a compression spring within said neck adapted to seat said valve member, balls between said cam member and nut, and a handle rotatably vconnected to said nut having driving lugs in slidable engagement with said cam member.

5. A self-closing valve, comprising a valve member having a lift stem, a lifting cam membery sleeved upon said stem having notches therein, and a hollow handle having vertical ribs internally thereof exten-ding into said notches to rotate said cam member vand to permit vertical movement thereof within said handle.

6. A self-closing valve, comprising a body having a hollow cylindrical extension grooved internally, a valve head having lugs slidable vertically within the grooves in said extension, a compression spring seated upon said head, a nut having a cam surface at its top secured to said extension, a stem for said valve head extending through said cam nut, a lock nut for said cam nut, a rotatable handle having a flanged base portion sleeved upon said cam nut, means on said nut adapted to prevent a lift movement of saidhandle,

a cam member sleeved upon said valve stem having notches, balls between sai-d cam member and cam nut, ribs upon said handle eX- tending into said notches, a collar adjustably secured upon said valve stem adapted to be engaged by said cam member, and a device for locking said collar against rotation upon sai-d stem.

7. A self-closing valve,'comprising a body having a cylindrical extension, a valve member having a lift stem, a plug in screw connection with said extension having a central opening for said stem and a'recess in its bottom, a plate sleeved upon saidA stem adapted to bear upwardly against the bottom of said plug, a compression spring seated upon said valve member adapted to press against said plate, a spring within said recess seated upon said plate, and a gland member and packing within said recess subjected to constant compresison of said second spring. i

8. A self-closing valve, comprising a valve serrated collar screwed upon sai-d stem, and' a locking cap having interlocking serrations for said serrated collar and formed with a slot adapted to receive said fiat extension.

9. A self-closing valve, comprising a valve v member having a lift stem provided with a reduced flat extension, a lift collar in screwconnection with said steln having a serrated circumference, and a locking cap having serrations to interlock with said serrated circumference and provided with a cross-shaped slot adapted to sleeve over said fiat extension, the cross portion of said slot being approximately but not exactly at right angles. l0. A self-closing valve, comprising a valve member having a lift stem and cam devices and a handle adapted to raise said stem, including a set of balls, and a retainer and separator for said balls, comprising two independent. concentric rings having openings for the balls.

11. A self-closing valve, comprising a valve member having a lift stem and cam devices and a handle adapted to raise said stem, including a set of balls, and a retainer and separator for said balls, comprisingtwo independent concentric rings having openings for the balls, one of said rings being split and possessing spring qualities. 12. A self-closing valve, comprising a body having a main water passage divided by a wall having a valve seat at its top and a screw-threaded opening in its lower portion and a water restricting passage between said seat and opening, a regulating screw within said opening opposite said restrictin passage, packing and a packing gland 1n the bottom of said body for said regulating screw, and a spring pressed non-rotatable valve member seated normally upon said valve seat having a rotatable non-rising handle and lift means enclosed by and associated with said handle adapted to raise said valve and open said main and restrictedl passages.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HALSEY W. TAYLOR. 

